Controlling device for pumping systems.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1912.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

411671 a jaw mwc'w, W MW 3 Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

A. A. BOWSBR. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PUMPING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16,1912- (Z5 7655(366 Magda aka M? UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN A. BOWSER, OBBOR-T WAYNE. INDIANA ASSIGNOR TO S. F. BOWSER-8c COMPANY.. INC., OF FORT WAYNE. INDIANA.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PUMPING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed September 16, 1912. Serial Roz-720,469.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN A. Bowsnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort \Vayhe, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices for Pumping Systems, of which the following is as1 )ecification-.

My invention relates to means for controlling liquids in pumping systems where the source of liquid supply and the pumping mechanism are at relatively different heights, and the primary object of my invention is to provide improved means in such systems for automatically sealing the passage between the source of supply and the pumping mechanismwhen the systemis not in use to prevent the liquid from flooding the pump or flowing from'thepiimp by gravity, as" the case may be.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists in the features of novelty"- exemplified in the construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts'herein described, and shown in the accompanying draw-in which illustrate '0neembodiment. of my invention, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fignre'l is a view of a representative pumping system embodying my invention and involves a system Wherein the supply tank is. elevated above the discharge point of the pump. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevationof that portion of Fig. 1 involving my invention. Fig. '3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the application of my invention to a system wherein the pump is elevated above the supply tank.

The pumping mechanism, supply tank and various pipings and connections shown in the drawings are typical of a liquid pumping system which is more particularly adapt/ed to the handling of gasolene or oils for automobile service, and although I have shown my'invention in the preferred form after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosures herein made it will be apparent that my invention is equallyapplicable to other systems Wherein similar requirements are co be met, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to thedrawings, it will'be seen that the mechanism A represents a pumping device which, although illustrated as being of the self-measuring type, may be of any suitable or desired construction adapted for the purpose. This pump is arranged to draw liquid from a tank B, which in the particular arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is elevated above the'disch'arge nozzle Got the pump. This tank is of course representative of any suitable vessel or receptacle adapted to serve as a source ofliquid supply. The pump A is connected withthe supply Qnk by means of piping D, and in the construction shown this pipe D enters the tank B from its upper'side and extends to the bottom of the tank in order thatall of the liquid in the tank may be drawnthe re'from, this bein'g'a usual method of arranging pumping systems-of this character. The end portion D of the piping connects with thepump at the base thereof in any desired manner. Although I have illustrated the tank B as being elevated above the pumping mechanism it is obvious that ther'elative heights ofthe pump and tank maybe arrangedas desired.

For instance, the tank maybe. located below" the discharge level of the pump A. In systems of this ch'aracter'considerable trouble is experienced when the system is not in use by reason of the "pump becoming flooded with liquid or being deprived of liquid, depending upon the relative heights of the pump and supply tank. This trouble is due to the fact that the valves leak. In systems like that shown in Fig. 1, where the tank is elevated above the pump, the he'adof liquid will by the action'of gravity seep or leak through the valves and discharge nozzle E and will-notonly flood the pump but will drip from the pump and be lost. In systems where the pump is above the tank a similar action takes place in the sense that by reason of leaky valves the oil flows back to the tank and thereby leaves the pump. I have provided a device. which positively prevents the How of oil in either direction after the pump has ceased operating. This device in Fig. l is indicated generally by the let-ter'F and is interposed in the pipe line D between the tank and pump Referring more articularly now to Figs. 2 and '3, it will 'seen that this device preferably comprises a relatively'long hollow tube or pipe G, having enlarged hollow'heads H and J at its upper and lower ends respectively. The lower I tube G.

head J has an upstanding integral hollow portion J through which the tube G passes and in which it is firmly secured. The interior of this upstanding portion J is enlarged suliiciently to provide an annular s nce X between the tube G and itself and it serves as a suitable means to which may be fastened a portion 1) of the supply pipe leading from the tank. The lower head J, as before mentioned, is hollow and is adapted to contain a pool or quantity of mercury M, and a removable screw plug J 3 is provided in the bottom of this head for the purpose of removing the mercury or for cleaning purposes whenever desired. The lower end G of the vertical tube G projects downwardly into the mercury pool to some distance below the upper level thereof. The upper head H also has a hollow upstanding portion H to which the pipe D is connected, this pipe also connecting directly with the pump as before explained.

\Vhen the pump is operating, the How of liquid will be from the tank B through the piping D and D into the hollow portion J 1 of the lower head. From thence it passes into an enlaregd chamber J of the lower head and then up through the vertical tube G to a chamber H of the upper head. From here it passes into the hollow, portion H of the upper head and then through the pipe D and pump. In passing through the chamber J 4 of the lower head, however, the liquid must necessarily pass below the level of the mercury in order to enter the lower end Gr of the vertical tube Gr and more or less of the mercury will be carried with the oil up through the tube G to the upper head, but on account of the enlarged chamber H of the upper head the mercury will not pass above the head, but will tend to flow laterally into this chamber and allow the oil to pass beyond it into the pump. As soon as the pumping operation is finished, however, the mercury being heavier than the oil or liquid, will run back down the tube G and settle quiescently in the lower head and seal the end of the tube G. The passage through the lower head J between the pipe D and the tube G is thus automatically closed, and even though there be considerable head of liquid from the elevated supply tank the action of gravity on this head of oil will not be sufficient to cause the oil to pass into the So far I have described this mercury sealing device in connection with a system where the tank is elevated above the pump and it is therefore desired to prevent the flooding of the pump. In Fig. 3, however, I have indicated the device as applied to a system where the tank is located below the ump and in this system it is desired to prevent the liquid from gradually leaking back into the tank and away from the pump when the pump is not in operation. In this figure the pipe L leads from the lower head J of the mercury valve to the pump and the pipe 0 leads from the tank or source of supply to the upper head H of the valve device. Otherwise the valve structure is the same as that shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, however, the oil is drawn downwardly through the head H, tube G, and through the mercury pool or bath M, and thence into cavity N of the upstanding portion J of the lower head. From here it passes through the pipe L to the pump. It will thus be seen that after the pump has operated, the quantity of liquid remaining in the pipe L between the pump and the head cannot seep back into the tank through the mercury seal and in this manner the liquid is maintained in the pipes L right up to the pump so that the instant the pump is operated it will immediately cause a flow of liquid therefrom. This is particularly advantageous when'the self-measuring types of pumps are used since the pump must commence to measure and discharge liquid the instant the pump commences to operate.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a pump, a. tank, a pipe connection from said pump to the tank, and a mercury valve interposed between the pump and the tank.

2. The combination of a pump and a tank disposed at different levels, a pipe connection therebetween, and a mercury valve interposed between the pump and the tank.

3. In a liquid pumping system, the combination of a pump, a tank, a pipe connection from said pump to the tank, and a mercury valve interposed between the pump and the tank.

4. In a liquid pumping system, the combination of a pump and a tank disposed at different levels, a pipe connection from the pump to the tank, and a mercury valve in said pipe connection.

5. In a liquid pumping system, the combination of a pump, a tank, a pipe connection from said pump to the tank, and a mercury valve disposed between the pump and the tank, said valve having an upper and a lower chamber which communicate with each other through a single pipe.

6. In a liquid pumping system, the combination of a pump and a tank disposed at different levels, a pipe connect1on therebetween, and a mercury valve in the pipe connection, said mercury valve having an upper and a lower chamber with communication therebetween. through a single pipe.

7. In a liquid pumping system having a pump, a tank disposed at a different level from said pump, and a pipe connection therebetween, a mercury valve in said pipe connection having an upper and a lower chamber, said lower chamber containing a mercury bath and the two chambers communicating through a single pipe which extends downwardly through the lower chamber below the upper level of said n'iercury bath.

8. In a liquid pumping system having a pump, a tank and pipe connection between the pump and the tank a mercury valve in said pipe connection, said valve having an upper and a lower chamber, said chambers communicating through a single pipe which extends downwardly below the upper level of a mercury bath contained in the lower chamber. said lower chamber containing suiiicient mercury to maintain against the force of gravity any difference in level of the liquid contained in said liquid pumping system.

9. In a liquid pumping system having a pump and a tank dispose at different levels with pipe connection therebetween, a mercury valve in the pipe connection having an upper and a lower chamber, said chambers communicating through a single pipe which extends downwardly below the upper level of a mercury bath contained in said lower chamber, and said lower chamber containing sutiicient mercury to maintain against the force of gravity any difference in level of the liquid contained in said liquid pumping system.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 6th day of September A. D. 1912.

ALLEN A. BOWSER. Witnesses:

J. R. MATLACK, C. M. SMITH.

Copies of this tent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

